"It could engulf the Trump administration."
Laura Loomer, known as a right-wing speaker in the United States, recently commented on the so-called "Epstein files" that have stirred American society in an interview with political media Politico. According to Loomer, the response of President Donald Trump, who seems reluctant to release the Epstein files, has led his solid support base, the "Make America Great Again (MAGA)" faction, to rise up, impacting even Trump's approval ratings, which have maintained a fortress-like status despite strong backlash from the progressive camp.
The Epstein files are investigative documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, who was arrested on charges of sex trafficking minors and took his own life in prison in 2019. But why did these documents become a 'hot potato' in American politics?
Epstein was a businessman from New York. He was known for having a close network of influential figures in politics and finance in the United States, as well as foreign royals as his clients. He was long plagued by allegations of sexually exploiting minors alongside his clients, and due to his frequent associations with figures such as former President Bill Clinton, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, and Prince Andrew, brother of Charles III of England, rumors circulated that they also were Epstein's secret clients.
Rumors spread rapidly after Epstein met his mysterious death in prison. Epstein, who had been incarcerated in 2018 on charges of sex trafficking involving 36 minors, died before receiving a verdict. Moreover, footage of his death was deleted from prison CCTV, leading to conspiracy theories suggesting that Epstein was silenced at the behest of someone who would have faced adverse consequences if he opened his mouth.
Such suspicions rapidly spread as Trump used them as a means to rally support right before his potential re-election. He claimed during his campaign that Epstein was killed by the "Deep State" and declared, "If I am elected president, I will fully disclose the JFK assassination documents and Epstein-related materials."
However, the recent announcement from the Department of Justice disappointed supporters who believed Trump's promise. On the 7th, local time, the Department of Justice announced, "The Epstein files do not exist, and his cause of death is confirmed as suicide." This was in stark contrast to the previous statement by Attorney General Pam Bondi in February, who had said in an interview with Fox News, "The Epstein files are currently on my desk," raising expectations for their release. This has led to suspicions that Bondi's failure to publish the files is due to Trump's pressure. According to a survey conducted by Reuters and Ipsos on the 17th, 69% of respondents answered that "the government is hiding facts related to Epstein," while only 6% agreed that "the government's announcement is true."
Moreover, even Trump himself showed an attitude of distancing from the issue, intensifying the backlash from the MAGA faction. On the 15th, at a rally in Washington, Trump stated, "I can't understand why they (supporters) are so obsessed with that boring stuff," and on the 12th, he posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, that we should "not waste time and energy on Epstein."
The backlash was immediate and fierce. Famous right-wing YouTubers who had previously supported Trump unanimously began criticizing him, while some MAGA supporters posted videos of themselves burning the red MAGA hats, a symbol of their support, reacting violently.
Ultimately, as public opinion worsened, Trump appeared to take a step back on the 17th. He urged Bondi through Truth Social to "release the grand jury testimonies related to Epstein." Bondi responded by stating, "I am prepared to request the release of the grand jury transcripts in court tomorrow," indicating that the release of the Epstein files might be entering a new phase.
Amid this, some are strengthening the argument that Trump's delay in releasing the files is due to Epstein's alleged connections to the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, formerly with Fox News, claimed in a speech at a conservative youth organization event, "Given Epstein's funding and power base, he is not just a simple financier," asserting that "everyone in Washington knows he is linked to Mossad."
In fact, Epstein had some ties to Ehud Barak, a former Prime Minister of Israel. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) in 2023, Barak met with Epstein several dozen times since 2013, and starting in 2015, they reportedly had regular monthly contact for about a year. During this process, it has been alleged that Barak received approximately $2.3 million from the Epstein Foundation and that Epstein invested $1 million in a fund established by Barak.
As Carlson, representing right-wing speakers, brings up the link between Epstein and Mossad, other arguments supporting this notion have also emerged. John Schindler, a former National Security Agency (NSA) officer, asserted, "Epstein's crimes were run on an organizational level, which would have been impossible without the backing of intelligence agencies." Eric Weinstein, a former director at Thiel Capital, stated, "The notion that Epstein is merely a financier is false," suggesting he is likely an "asset" of intelligence agencies.
Meanwhile, some suggest that Trump instructing Bondi to release court records is less about the purpose of releasing the files and more a strategy to dispel suspicions about collusion between himself and Epstein. One person making this argument is Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, who has fallen out with Trump. Musk has claimed that "Trump is in the Epstein files," fueling the allegations.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) also reported on the 17th that in 2003, President Trump wrote a letter in album form for Epstein's 50th birthday, alongside obscene drawings. In response, Trump asserted, "That letter is fake," and stated, "I will sue WSJ," taking a strong stance.